Researching and Using Specific Types of Driving Records

If you have ever needed to go to your local department of motor vehicles, you probably have experienced a great deal of frustration, long lines and still not been able to accomplish your task on the first visit. It seems that each customer service representative has a different idea of what is required to obtain your license, turn in tags, change your name and/or address. You are sent back to gather more documentation, take a number, wait in line and hope that when your number is called, you will have a successful experience.

Although some of this can now be done online, such as renewing registration or changing a mailing address, almost all driving records can be accessed via some online data source, usually for a relatively low fee. 

Reasons for Needing a Driving Record

The need for a person’s driving record has increased in importance in the last decade. It is an example of your trustworthiness, your ability to adhere to the laws and ability to meet your obligations, i.e., maintaining the proper amount of car insurance. At first glance, it is understandable that your driving record would play a key role in determining the amount you will pay for car insurance; however, it is also key in a lot of jobs that you may be interested in applying for. Of course, if you are applying for any type of on-the-road sales or trucking job, you know that a driver’s license as well as insurance is required. 

In the instance of a long-haul trucker, a certain class of license is required. In our world of economic uncertainty and high unemployment rates, an application could be completed indicating that someone has a CDL license (commercial driver’s license) but in order to ensure the veracity of that statement, the prospective employer must pull someone’s driving record.

Information Found in a Driving Record

Although driving records may contain different information dependent on an individual’s driving history, each driving record has some common elements. It will contain both personal and public information, as well as entries that are not available to the public. Before someone can gain access to someone else’s personal information, they must certify or acknowledge that they are accessing this information for a permissible use. Making a false representation regarding the use in order to obtain the information is considered a felony, and as such may be punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine. 

Maintained within a state’s department of motor vehicle’s database is the history of every licensed driver in that state and his or her activities and actions. After certifying the permissible use, queries are made to produce a driving record history. Information for each licensed resident of that state as well as residents with no license but who have violated a state’s driving law can be searched. The history will show any crashes, moving violations, civil infractions, failures to answer any type of court judgment or subpoena, license withdrawal and suspension actions, insurance information or any restrictions on one’s driving privileges.

Research Specific Types of Driving Records:

DMV Records

Drunk Driving